Universal recorder pen assembly



May 11, 1937. R. w. R055 ET AL. 2,080,065

UNIVERSAL RECORDER PEN ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I K a 1 15c 1% "jjjjil g ym 10h- ATTORNEY.

May 11, 1937. R. w. R055 ET AL 2,089,065

UNIVERSAL RECORDER PEN ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNIVERSAL RECORDER PEN ASSEDmLY Raymond w. m, Philadelphia, Pa., and Sigurd H. Seberhagen, deceased, late of Philadelphia, Pa., by Sophie Seberhagen, "Philadelphia, Pa.,

executrim; assignors to Leeds and Northrup Company, Philadelphia, "Pa", a.corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 3,195

.8 Claim,

This invention relates to a universal recorder penassembly or marker-assembly and more specifically 'to such an assembly suitable for application to a curve drawing recorder or to a comprises a frameprovided with recorder penreceiving and retaining means and a supporting member or bracket for the frame including means for slidably engaging a guide shaft or rod. The frame and its supporting member are provided with cooperating means adapted to receive an element for rigidly interconnecting them and with independent cooperating means'adapted to receive an element for pivotally interconnecting the frame and its support.

More specifically, in accordance with this invention, the recorder pen, which preferably comprises a composite glass envelope or container; is provided with a resilient clip detachably supported from the frame. The supporting bracket for the frame is provided with depending arms curved or formed slidably to engage a guide rod or shaft, and the supporting bracket has a pair of upstanding arms provided with a pair of holes or apertures registering with similar holes or apertures in the frame and adapted to receive a pair of pivot pins for pivotally interconnecting the frame and its supporting bracket. The bracket is formed also with a forwardly extendingarm having one or more holes or apertures registering with corresponding holes or apertures in the frame and adapted to receive one or more locking members such as rivets, bolts, or the like, for rigidly interconnecting the frame and its 5 supporting bracket to form a unitary structure.

The frame and its supporting bracket are rigidly interconnected when it is' desired to utilize the assembly in a simple curve drawing recording instrument. When the instrument is to be utilized go in a two-point dot-and-dash recorder, locking means rigidly connecting the frame and its bracket are omitted and pivot pins are supplied to form a pivotal interconnection therebetween. When thus utilized in a two-point dot-and-dash ll recorder, the supporting bracket is oscillated as by means of its guide shaft, through a small angle, to produce a dot upon registration of the recorder pen with record chart, and is given a more extensive movement to produce a dash upon the record chart, as described in more detail hereinafter.

.For a better understanding of this invention, together with'other and further features thereof reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a recorder pen assembly embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the assembly of Fig. 1 but including pivot pins;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, modified to operate in a two-point dotand-dash instrument;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a mechanism suitable for operating a recorder pen assembly in a two-point dotand-dash instrument;

Fig. 4a is a detail of a cam element of the mechanism of'Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of theapparatus of 'Fig. 3 in the position corresponding to the drawing of a dash on a record chart; and

Fig. 6 represents a portion of the record chart upon which have been alternately marked dots and dashes.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a recorder pen assembly embodying our invention comprising a supporting frame l0 having an outwardly extending arm terminating in an upwardly extending indicator or pointer lfla adapted to'cooperate with a scale II. The frame I0 is adapted to receive and retain a markeryas, a recorder pen I2 preferably comprising a composite glass container or envelope including a cylindrical reservoir 12a from which extends a neck I2b terminating in the pen element I'Zc. Fromthe other side of the reservoir iZa depends a U-shaped filling tube l2d. Preferably a capillary tubing |2e extends from the neck i2b into the lower portion of the filling tube l2d, as shown, and is sealed into the neck i2b near the depending portion thereof. This serves two purposes; first, it seals the pen element l2c from the reservoir I21; and, with the seal comprising the U-shaped filling tube lid, effectively seals the reservoir Ila; in addition, this arrangement permits feeding of ink to the pen element I2c so long as there is ink in any Cir portion of the envelope I2, to the lowest portion of which the capillary tubing I2e extends.

The recorder pen I2, Fig. 2, is mounted in a substantially U-shaped clip or carriage I3, the outer arms I3a of the U extending upwardly and being provided with grooves I3b resiliently engaging projections lIlc, which may preferably be punched from the upstanding arms lb of the main supporting frame ID. The base element of the U-shaped clip I3 is also received between the upstanding ears IIId of the frame III to insure a proper alignment of the recorder pen I2 with respect to the frame I0. Extending upwardly from the base of the U-shaped clip I3 are two pairs of arcuate spring clips I3c adapted to receive and retain the cylindrical reservoir I2a of the recorder pen I2. A guiding arm or lug IIle, Fig. 1, depends from the frame I0, and terminates in a slot IIif, which receives the pen element He, and thus accurately spaces the pen I2 with respect to the frame I0.

There is provided a supporting member or bracket I5 for the frame which may be rigidly secured thereto, in case the pen assembly is to be applied to a curve drawing instrument, or

pivotally connected thereto, in case it is to be applied to a two-point dot-dash recorder. For example, assuming the pen assembly is to be applied to a curve drawing instrument, the frame i0 is formed with holes or apertures IIlg registering with holes I5d in the bracket I5, in which are pressed one or more rivets I4, rigidly interconnecting the frame III and the bracket I5. The bracket I5 is provided with a pair of depending arms l5a bent to engage a guide shaft or rod I6 along which the pen carriage slides during normal operation of the recording apparatus. The supporting bracket I5 is provided also with a pair of depending lug's or arms I5b to which are secured clamps I'I, as by knurledheaded thumb screws I8, to clamp the string or cord I9 driving the pen assembly.

Since in the case of the simple curving draw ing instrument of Figs. 1 and 2, in which the supporting bracket I5 is rigidly riveted to the frame ID, no additional interconnection between the bracket I5 and support III is needed, the pivot pins 20 shown in Fig. 2 may be omitted. In the case of a two-point dot-and-dash instrument, as described hereinafter, the pivotal support provided by these pins 2|) is necessary. To this end, a pair of brackets I50 are upturned from the ends of the supporting bracket I5 and are threaded to receive the pivot pins 28 extending into apertures IIJh in the upstanding arms IOb of the main frame I0. Lock nuts 2| are provided suitably to secure the pivot pins in position.

It will be understood, of course, that the pen I2c is arranged for engagement with a record chart 22 mounted on a suitable chart drum 23. Thus when the rivets I4 rigidly interconnect the frame I0 and the bracket I5, the pivot pins 20 are not needed; the pen-assembly is then suitable for use with a curve-drawing instrument. By omitting the rivets I4 and pivotally interconnecting the frame I 0 and bracket I5 by pivot pins 20, the pen-assembly is then suitable for drawing curves on a chart, or for marking on the chart dots and/or dashes.

It is believed the operation of the above described pen assembly will be clear from the following description. Initially, the pen envelope I2 is mounted in the spring arms I30 of the clip I3, and tilted into a substantially vertical position in which ink is dropped through the U- shaped filling tube IN. The clip or carriage II is slid down between the end brackets Ilb. the groove Ilb engaging the projections lie on the brackets "lb, and the base of the clip I8 resting between the lugs Ind. It is apparent that the pen envelope I2 and its supporting clip Il may subsequently be removed simply by squeezing together the upper ends of the arms l3a of the clip I3, allowing the projection Inc to ride over the ends of the grooves I3b. At the same time, the pen I20 registers in the slot III! of the arm IIIe, which retains it in proper alignment. The pen assembly is now ready for operation on any suitable recorder mechanism, sliding transversely on the guide rod or shaft I5, as propelled by the driving string or cord I9. The associated indicator Ina simultaneously indicates on the scale II the magnitude of the condition under measurement by the instrument.

In some instances, it is desirable to utilize such a recorder pen assembly in an instrument designed to provide a dot-and-dash record for recording the magnitude of conditions at two distinct locations or points. For such a purpose, it is necessary only to remove the rivets I4 of the apparatus of Fig. l and add the pivot pins 20 and lock nuts 2i, resulting in an assembly as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. In this instance, the guide shaft or rod I5 upon which the recorder pen assembly slides is provided with a longitudinal key or spline 24 which cooperates with the bracket I5 and the arms l5a bodily to oscillate the recorder pen assembly upon oscillation of the shaft I5.

One mechanism by means of which,.t1'1e re- 5 corder pen assembly of Fig. 3 may be operated to produce a dot-and-dash record for registering the magnitude of two distinct conditions is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this figure, a crank arm 25 is secured to the shaft I5 and operated by a link 25 pivoted on the end of the crank arm 25 as by a pivot pin 250. At the other end of the link 25 is a slot 261) in which is adjustably secured a pin 21 journaled or pivoted in the end of a lever 28 pivoted intermediate its ends at 28a in a supporting frame 29. The lever 28 is biased for a clockwise movement about its pivot 28a as by a spring 30, such movement producing, obviously. a counter-clockwise movement of the crank 25 and the shaft I5. An adjustable stop 3| is provided for limiting this clockwise movement of the lever 28.

The lever 28 may be periodically oscillated by any desired mechanism at the frequency at which it is desired to place a record on the chart 22. Such mechanism, for example, may be driven by a continuously rotating shaft 32, which may correspond to the shaft I3 of the automatic indicating-recording mechanism described in our aforesaid application, or to the shaft I of the aforesaid Squibb patent. Secured to the shaft 32 is a worm 33, engaging a worm wheel 34, upon which is supported a cam disc 35 shown more clearly in Fig. 4a. The cam disc 35 has a peripheral notch or recess 35a extending entirely through the disc, while diametrically opposite i'rom the recess 35a is a second recess or notch 35b, extending only partially through the disc, as shown. A cam pin or follower 38, adjustably secured in the lower arm of the lever 28, as by being threaded therein and secured by a lock nut 35a, normally engages the disc 35 near its periphery so that, upon its rotation, as the recesses 35a and 35b successively register with the pin 35, the arm 28 is released to move in a clockwise direction under the influence of the biasing spring 33. In the case of the Squibb patent and the aforesaid copending application, the shaft 32 is often also utilized to operate intermediate mechanical relay apparatus for rebalancing the measuring circuit and adjusting the position of the recorder pen assembly along the shaft ll. Such adjustments are made at a considerably higher frequency than the periodic operation of the recorder pen into engagement with the record chart 22 in order to allow a predetermined number of cycles of operation of the reba-lancing mechanism between successive engagements of the recorder pen. It is highly desirable that the operation of the recorder pen assembly to record an indication on the record chart shall be prevented during that portion of the cycle of rotation of the shaft 32 corresponding to a readjustment of the recorder pen assembly along the shaft l6, since such simultaneous operations would cause a blur or smudge on the record chart. On the other hand, it is difficult accurately to time the release of the lever 23 by means of the cam indentations 35a and 35!) with;

the cooperating pin 36, because of the high gear ratio between the shaft 32 and the cam disc 35.

To avoid such simultaneous operations, a cam' 31 is secured to the shaft 32 and cooperates with pin or cam follower 38 adjustably secured in the end of the lower arm of the lever 23 as by a lookout 38a. The cam 31 is designed accurately to time the release and withdrawal of the lever 23 during the cycle of rotation of the shaft 32, and thus to prevent simultaneous transverse movement of the recorder pen assembly and oscillation thereof to place a record on' the chart described linkage mechanism, the angle of rotation being just sufficient to bring the' marker or recorder pen I2c into contact with record chart 22 and thus record thereon a dot 22a as shown in Fig. 6. As stated above, the timing of this movement of recorder pen assembly to record an indication on the chart 22 is accurately determined by the auxiliary cam 3'! and follower Substantially 180 later, referred to the cam disc 35, the cam pin or follower 36 registers with the recess 35a, again allowing the lever 28 to move in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 30, but this time the angle of movement is greater, being limited only by the stop 3|. The result is that the recorder pen assembly occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 5. During the initial movement, corresponding to the dropping of the pin 36 into the recess 3517, the recorder pen is broughtinto contact with the record chart 22. Further clockwise movement of the lever 23 and the shaft l6 about their respective pivots produces a pivotal movement of the frame to with respect to its supporting bracket i5, about the pivot pin 20, and this movement is accompanied by a movement of the marker or recorder pen I2c along the record chart 22 in the direction of its motion, thereby forming a line, or dash, 22b on the chart. The recorder pen assembly is, after this operation, returned to the position shown in Fig. 4 by means of the cam 31 engaging the cam follower 33. As before, the timing of the marking of the dash by the recorder pen I on the record chart 22 is accurately determined by the auxiliary cam 31 and the cam follower or pin 38.

Thus, it will be seen, Fig. 6, that the pen I2c alternately marks upon the record chart 22 dashes 22b, and dots 22a, it being clear each dot may represent the magnitude of a condition under measurement at a certain location or point, while each dash may represent the magnitude of the same or different condition at a different location or point, or a different condition at the same point. It is also seen that a single recorder penassembly may be utilized either as a curve drawing instrument, or as a two-point dot-and-dash recorder, with no changein construction other than the use of either the pivot pins 20 or the rivets it, thus substantially minimizing the number of parts which it is necessary to carry in stock, and providing a recording pen assembly which may be readily converted from one type to the other. As a curve drawing device, Fig. 1. the spline 24 of the guide rod i6 is omitted, the pen l2c at all times engaging the chart 22 to draw thereon a curve representative of the magnitude of the condition under measurement or control.

While there has been described what at present is considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed:-

l.A three-part marker-assembly comprising a bracket with upstanding arms, a main frame having upstanding arms nesting within said firstnamed arms, provisions on adjacent arms for receiving pivotal connecting means, and a marker-support-ing clip\ having resilient arms nesting between and biased firmly into engagement with said second-named arms, said frame having a laterally extending projection, and a second projection extend'ng laterally from said bracket beneath said first-named projection for supporting said frame in a predetermined position with respect to said bracket.

2. A multi-part marker-assembly comprising a main frame provided with upstanding arms, a marker-receiving and retaining clip provided with upstanding arms for cooperation with said firstnamed arms, said first and second-named arms having projections and recesses complementary to each other for connecting said clip to said main frame, a bracket having upstanding arms disposed in cooperative relation with said firstnamed arms and having a forwardly extending projection disposed below and in supporting engagement with said main frame, and means interconnecting said main frame and said bracket.

3. A multi-part marker-assembly comprising a main frame provided with upstanding arms, a marker-receiving and retaining clip provided with upstanding arms for cooperation with said firstnamed arms, said first and second-named arms having projections and recesses complementary to each other for connecting said clip to said main frame, a bracket having upstanding arms disposed in cooperative relation with said first-named arms, a forwardly extending projection disposed below and in supporting engagement with said main frame, and depending guides formed to receive a splined guiding element, and means pivotally interconnecting said cooperating arms of said frame and of said bracket.

4. A universal mounting assembly for a marker comprising a frame having an upstanding arm at each end, a substantially U-shaped marker-receiving and retaining clip adapted to be resiliently and detachably supported between said arms, the arms of said U-shaped clip extending beyond the arms of said frame to provide a manual grip for ready detachment, and a supporting member for said frame, said frame and said supporting member having cooperating means adapted to receive means for interconnecting them.

5. In a recorder having a record chart and a marker therefor, the combination of a bracket having depending arms, means cooperating with said arms pivotally to support said bracket adjacent said chart, a frame pivotally mounted on said bracket, extending portions of said frame and of said bracket cooperating to form a driving connection therebetween upon pivotal movement of said bracket in one direction, a clip receiving and retaining said marker, said clip and said frame having cooperating portions for detachably connecting said clip to said frame and for supporting said marker in a marking position with respect to said chart, and automatic means for selectively rotating said bracket in said one direction to move said marker away from and in spaced relation to said chart, and for rotating said bracket in the other direction to move said marker toward said chart by different amounts, said marker upon engagement of said chart placing thereon a dot, and said marker responsive to further movement of said bracket and to pivotal movement between said frame and said bracket, placing on said chart a dash the length of which is dependent upon the extent of said pivotal movement.

6. In a recorder having a record chart, and a marker in cooperative relation with said chart, the combination of a pivotally mounted bracket, supporting means pivoted from said bracket for rotation toward and away from said chart, a clip receiving and retaining said marker and detachably mounting the same on said pivoted supporting means for movement therewith, said bracket and supporting means having engaging portions, and automatic means for selectively rotating said bracket by different amounts to move said marker toward said chart, said marker placing thereon a record made distinctive by the extent of movement toward said chart of said bracket after engagement of the chart by said marker and by the presence or absence, respectively, of relative movement between said bracket and said supporting means.

7. Means for mounting a marker in cooperative relation with a record chart comprising a pivotally mounted bracket, said bracket having depending arms formed to engage a guiding element, 9, marker-receiving and retaining clip having upstanding arms at opposite ends thereof, a supporting frame provided with rigid upstanding projections for resilient engagement by said upstanding arms, means cooperating with said projections for pivotally supporting said frame from said bracket for rotation of said marker-retaining clip with respect to said bracket, and a forwardly extending arm rigid with said frame. one portion of which is provided with marker-guiding means disposed adjacent the record chart, and an extension rigid with said bracket and cooperating with said forwardly extending arm to move said frame in one direction upon movement of said bracket in the same direction.

8. A marker-assembly cooperatively arranged with respect to a drum having a chart, for placing on the chart distinctive records, comprising a bracket having depending arms formed to engage a guiding element, a frame provided with a pair of upwardly extending arms, pivot means mounted from said bracket for pivotally engaging said arms to provide pivotal movement of said frame. each of said arms being provided with inwardly extending projections, a marker-receiving and retaining clip having upstanding resilient arms complementary to those of said frame, each arm of said clip having a recess complementary to said inwardly extending projections, said arms when bent inwardly releasing said recesses from said projections, a marker carried by said clip. a guide extending from said frame and provided with a slot to receive and fix the position of the marker, and means for selectively rotating said bracket and said frame to move the marker into and out of engagement with said chart and for moving said bracket an additional amount over that required for said engagement, said pivotal means providing for movement of the marker with respect to said chart and said drum thereby to form on said chart, records made distinctive by the extent of movement of said bracket.

RAYMOND W. ROSS. SOPHIE SEBERHAGEN, Emecutria: of the Last Will and Testament Sigurd H. Seberhagen, Deceased. 

